Understanding STI vs STD (Sexually Transmitted Infection vs Sexually Transmitted Disease)

STI stands for “Sexually Transmitted Infection” and STD stands for “Sexually Transmitted Disease”. These two terms sound similar and the difference between them can be confusing. One of the reasons for this is that up to a certain point these two terms were synonymous and were used interchangeably. But now there is a technical difference between these terms which has been acknowledged by the medical community and can no longer be used synonymously.

The difference lies in the meaning of the words being used. Although, both STD’s and STI’s are transmitted sexually or via sexual acts, the term “disease” and “infection” set them apart. Looking up at the meanings of these individual words, you come to the realization that they carry different connotative and denotative meanings.

Infection means being infected, contaminated i.e. the invasion of the body by bacteria, viruses or parasites. While diseases spread by infection but there is an implication that the infection has caused some disorder of structure or function in the body which may result in serious health complications.

In the case of STI’s, the virus/bacteria have come in contact with the person’s body, multiplied and then spread in the body. This may or may not result in any symptoms or have any immediate health risks. Regardless, the person carrying the infection is a “carrier” of the disease. That is why it is strongly advised to get tested even if there is no manifestation of symptoms in the body. Otherwise, the carrier can become a source of spreading STI’s or STD’s to other sexual partners. According to stats, up to 70% of women don’t experience symptoms when infected with chlamydia but they may still affect other potential partners. So, it’s best to get tested even if you’re asymptomatic.

An STI is classified as an STD when the infection caused by bacteria or virus leads to not only the manifestation of symptoms in the body but symptoms which result in altering the normal function of the body such that it causes complicated health risks. This implies that all STD’s start out as STI’s.

We can take an example of HPV (human papillomavirus) to clarify the difference between the two. An individual who has contracted HPV carries the virus, even if they do not show any symptoms. This is a typical case of the individual having an STI. But if this individual develops cervical cancer from HPV, now this is a case of an STI which has progressed to an STD. Gonorrhoea or Chlamydia infections which have progressed into pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) are also examples of infections which have transformed into STD’s.

Another reason for the change in the terminology is because there is a lower stigma attached to “Sexually Transmitted Infections” rather than “Sexually Transmitted Diseases”. A study was conducted regarding both terms and it was found that although people understood that both STI’s and STD’s had the same risks and mode of transmission, there was a significant difference in the stigma attached to the two.
STI’s caused by bacterial infections can be easily cured using antibiotics and STI’s caused by viral infections can be managed using antiviral treatments but are difficult to permanently eradicate.

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